Device for locating and retrieving submerged objects



Jan. 6, 1959 G. a S TJCHLING 2,366,936

DEVICE FOR LOCATING AND RETRIEVING SUBMERGED OBJECTS Filed Oct. 11, 1955 F IG. 6

28a F/G. 7

my E 25 zac 25 IN V EN TOR. GE RHARDT C. S T/CHL/NG BY 5 ATT02NEY United States Patent Tee DEVICE FOR LOCATING AND RETRIEVIN SUBMERGED OBJECTS Gerhardt C. Stichling, West Orange, N. J. Application October 11, 1955, Serial No. 539,823 1 Claim. (Cl. 9-9) My invention relates to improvements in devices for locating and retrieving submerged objects such as outboard motors, fishing rods, guns, seabags, etc., accidentally dropped over the side or otherwise lost in water too deep or too muddy to permit them to be seen from the surface.

Various constructions or designs for the above purpose have been proposed heretofore. Some examples of these are disclosed in Patents Nos. 1,476,387; 1,719,838; 2,528,799; and 2,569,977.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an improved device of the character referred to which is simple in construction and manner of operation, inexpensive, light, infallible in operation and only so under I the specific conditions and circumstances intendecLand which can be made small enough and of a shape to permit its being readily incorporated in or associated with the article or object to be insured against a day when it would otherwise be lost.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, an embodiment thereof is shown in the drawing, wherein Fig. l is a central, longitudinal section of a device constructed and operating in accordance with my invention; i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section as in Fig. 1; showing a modification;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sections taken, respectively, on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 in Fig. 1, one of the elements in Fig. 4 being partly broken away;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are elevational views illustrative of a step in the manufacture of my improved device; and

Fig. a is an enlarged, fragmentary, plan view of Fig. 5.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the reference numeral 10 designates a tubular casing which may be drawn or otherwise formed or made out of sheet metal. At the lefthand end of casing 10 there is formed or provided a circular lip or flange 10a which defines a relatively large water-inlet opening 10b.

Disposed within casing 10 at flange 10a there is a filter and protective element which may be in the form of a flat, circular, metal or plastic disc with a suitable number of relatively small holes through the same, or in the form of a flat, circular piece 11 of metal mesh, as represented in Fig. 1. Also within casing 10 there is a flat or planar, imperforate diaphragm 12 of suitable elastic or flexible material such as the plastic phenolethylene. Diaphragm 12 is spaced from the mesh disc or piece 11 by a thin washer or ring 14 between these two parts and whose inside diameter is the same as the diameter of open ing 10b.

Into the other or righthand end of casing 10 and having with respect thereto a relatively snug or press fit, there is inserted a tubular sleeve 15 which may also be drawn or otherwise formed or made out of sheet metal, and which is provided at the lefthand end thereof with a circular lip which this end is knotted close to the former.

2,866,986 Patented Jan. 6, 1959 or flange 15a defining a circular opening about the same diameter as that of the Water-inlet opening 10b. For the purpose of fixing sleeve 15 to casing 10, the adjacent edges of these two parts may be brazed or otherwise sealed together, as indicated at 16. In effect, casing 10' tion or wall 19 through which there are the holes or passages 20, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Supported between ring 17 and element 18 is a capsule or equivalent unit 21 containing water. In the form shown in Fig. 1, capsule 21 comprises two similar, semispherical parts 22 and 23 which may be of thin, plastic, pliable or elastic material and whose complementary edges are sealed or molded together and are pressed or clamped tightly between ring 17 and element 18. This is accomplished in assembly by forcing sleeve 15 all the way home into the righthand end of casing 10, as shown. The volume of water in capsule 21 is greater than the cubic content of the latter when the elastic material of the'same is unstretched or under no strain, and to the extent that the parts or halves 22 and 23 are stretched to a degree short of the bu'rstling or rupturing point. In other Words, when complete and ready for assembly in casing 10 as shown in Fig. 1, the capsule 21 comprised of the two parts 22 and 23 of elastic material may be said to be, to a substantial degree or extent, blown up with water. The respective dimensions are such that part 22 of the capsule is in contact with diaphragm 12 and part 23 is slightly spaced from or engages lightly the sharp well known to those skilled in the art, and as to such technique and methods reference ismade'to the publicationsand' patents relating to thesame.

A float member in the form of a cork 25 is inserted into sleeve 15 and has a relatively tight fit with respect thereto. That portion of cork 25 inserted into casing 10 is provided with a cavity 26 within which there is disposed or stored a length of fishline 27, or the equivalent. For this purpose there may be used the special too-l shown in Figs. 5 and 5a. This comprises a fiat, U-shape piece of spring steel to which there is soldered a ring 28. The free end of the side or leg 28a of the U is pointed sharply to form a needle 28b. The other side or leg 280 of the U is sprung to be slightly out of parallel relation with respect to the side or leg 28a, as shown in Fig. 5. One end 27a of line 27 is threaded into the eye of needle 28b, the legs 28a and 280 are sprung and held parallel to each other, and line 27 is wound about the latter, as shown in Fig. 6. This assembly is then inserted into cavity 26 and needle 28b is forced through the righthand end of cork 25 to expose the end 27a of line 27, as shown in Fig. 7, after which the end 27a of the line is pulled out of the eye of needle 28b, the legs 28a and 280 of the tool are forced toward each other sufiiciently to release them from the coil of line, and the tool is then pulled out to leave the coil of line in cavity 26, as'represented in Fig. 1. A small washer or button 29 is threaded onto the protruding end 27a of the line, after The end 27a of line 27 is thereby fixed with respect to cork 25. Cork 25 is inserted into the righthand end of casing 10 and forced all the way home, as shown in Fig. 1, after which the end 27b of line 27 is tied to a piece 10c struck from the edge of casing 10. The end 271) of line 27 is thereby fixed with respect to casing 10.

The power for causing the device to function is pro vided by a tablet 3 0, of calcium carbide, Alka-Seltzenor any other suitable salt or substance which generates a gas upon exposure to water and which is disposed within element 18, between the lefthand end of casing 10 and cork25. I f- A circular piece 31 of thin paraflin paper cemented or otherwise secured over the open end of sleeve 15, seals ofi and protects tablet 30 from moisture orwater before cork 25 is inserted into casing 10'. I

In use, the device is clamped or otherwise secured to the article to be insured against loss in event it is accidentally dropped into a body of water ;under conditions where the article can not be seen from. the surface. In such case the water pressure at opening 10b forces diaphragm 12 to the right. The latter pushes capsule 21 hard against the sharp point of needle 24. The material of part 23 of the capsule resists until it is forced inwardly as indicated in dashline, at which time the capsule is punctured and bursts to release the water therein which sprays and flows through passages 20, to react with tablet 30 and cause generation of a gas. Diaphragm 12 now functions as a check valve seating against the mesh 11, thereby permitting the pressure to build up rapidly as generation of the gas continues. The gas pressure soon reaches a high point whereat the thin paper cover 31 bursts and cork 25 is simultaneously blown out of casing 10 and is free therefrom to float to the surface, during which action line 27 pays out from cavity 26.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2 the various parts or elements corresponding respectively to those in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, are designated by the same respective reference numerals as the latter, but those in Fig. 2 are primed. In Fig. 2 the diaphragm 12 and ring 17 in Fig. l are omitted, and the part 22 of capule 21' is flat and serves the purpose of diaphragm 12. Otherwise, the construction and manner of operation are the same as in Figs. 1, 3 and 4.

Various modifications such as in the size, shape and arrangement of the parts or elements are possible without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the claim.

I claim as my invention;

In a device of the character described, a tubular casing,

'a" float member in the form of a cork inserted into an end of said casing and having a relatively tight fit with respect to the latter and movable longitudinally thereof to be free therefrom, that portion of said float member inserted into said casing being provided with a cavity,-

a length of line disposed within said cavity, one end of said line being fixed with respect to said float member, the other end of said line being fixed with respect to said casing, and means for causing said device to function in the sense that said float member is caused to move longitudinally of said casing to become free from the latter and thus to become freely movable away from the same for the distance limited by the length of said line; said means including gas-generating means disposed within said casing between the other end thereof and said float member and characterized by the fact that said means generates a gas upon exposure to a liquid, a closed capsule containing such liquid and disposed within said casing, at least part of the wall structure of said capsule being puncturable, a puncturing part supported within said casing between said capsule and said gas-generating means and having a relatively rigid and relatively sharp point disposed in proximity to said part of said wall structure and eifectual to puncture the latter, said capsule being movable relatively with respect to said point and in such wise as to effect the puncturing of said part of said wall structure by said point, said casing being provided with a water-inlet opening, and a diaphragm dis- ;posed within said casing between said water-inlet opening and said capsule and movable responsive to occurring water pressure from without said casing to engage said capsule and to impart movement to the latter to effect said puncturing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

